Foldable box



W. E. SCOTT FOLDABLE BOX Filed Jan. 12, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. E. SCOTT FOLDABLE BOX Filed Jan. 12, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I cflizforney Patented Dec. 16, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,519,813 PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER E. SCOTT, F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO C. J. FOX COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

FOLDABLE BOX.

Application filed January 12, 1924. Serial No. 685,7%.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER E. Soon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foldable Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to foldable mailing boxes in distinction from the usual set up boxes.

The present invention is purposed as an improvement upon the structure set forth in myprior United States Patent No. 1309, 117, issued March 14:, 1922, in which structure the locking function was efiected by the insertion of a locking tongue through a slit in the end of the folding flap. In the patented construction the unskilled insertion of the flap through the slit sometimes occasioned tearing and mutilation of the material around the strip, thus destroying the box.

An essential object of the present invention is to avoid the tearing and mutilation referred to.

()ther objects are to afiord a more effective and speedy locking of the parts in folded positions; to thoroughly seal the parts in folded position; and to attain these ends in a. structure whose unfolded condition occupies a minimum of storage space.

With the above and other objects in view, all of which willfully appear in the course of the following description, my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, in the various views of which like parts are similarlydesignated, and in which,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my box folded and sealed,

Figure 2, a plan of the original unfolded blank,

Figure 3, a perspective View of the blank partially folded,

Figure 4, a like view of the blank further folded, and

Figures 5 and 6, sections of the folded box taken on lines 55 and 6-6 respec tively of Figure 1.

In constructing my box, a blank is cut and scored by suitable dies or otherwise from a sheet of paperboard, cardboard, or other pliable material. In form the blank comprises an oblong body 7 with lateral rectangular extensions 8 upon which are vertical extensions 9 having transversely disposed inwardly tapering and rounded slits 10. Depending extensions 11 on the extensions 8 have similar marginal slits 12. A flap 13 depends from the body midway between the extensions 11. Spaced from each other upon the upper end of the body, at its ends, are vertically disposed projections or flaps 1 1 provided with tapering side edges 15 and preferably rounded at their free narrow ends. At the base of each fiap in its inner edge is a notch 17. Horizontal score or fold lines 18,19, 20, 21 and 22 are disposed at intervals from the top to the bottom of the blank, and similar vertical lines 23 and 24 traverse the extensions 8 in alignment with the outer and inner edges respectively of the extensions 9 and 11.

A score line 18 extends transversely of the body 7 at the bases of the projections 14. These projections constitute locking flaps which, after folding rest upon the floor of the box. The lines 18 and 19 form the section 28 which constitutes the outer front wall of the complete box. Lines 19 and form the top 29 of the folded box. Lines 20 and 21 bound the area 30 forming the outer back wall of the box. The area between the line 21 and the lower end of the body 7 forms the base or floor 31 of the folded box. A portion of the. line 22 forms the base flap 13. The lines 23 form the inwardly foldable wings which cover the contents of the folded box and which are overlapped. by the box top 29 after folding. The lines 24: cooperate with the line 21 to define the base of the box, and cooperate with the lines 23 to form the sides 34 of the box. The line 21 also forms inturned flaps 9 whose end portions 36 interlock in the slits or seats 10 to form a continuous inner back wall for the box. The line 22 also cooperates to form the flaps 11 which are bent inwardly with their ends 38 interlocked in the slits 12, and which form the inner front wall of the folded box. A. sealing strip 40 of thin paper is provided upon its inner face 41 with the usual dry adhesive, and is thereby attached intermediate its length to the under face of the section 28 of the blank, so that it constitutes laterally projecting flexible portions 42.

The described blank, shown in Figure 2,

is "folded as' above suggested until it is sufficiently complete to receive its contents.

The box in this stage is shown "in Figure 3, v

. then bending downwardly and forwardly the above mentioned loose flap carrying its already bent flaps 14, until the tips of the latter register with the portions of the space 44 occasioned by the elevation of the flap 13 and located each side thereof, as shown'in Figure 4:. As the section 28 is finally moved downwardly the flaps 14 are forced gradually into a horizontal plane in their advance through the openings. In this movement the adjacent edges 15 of the locking flaps 14 move in continuous contact with the lateral edges of the flap 13 until the latter enter the notches 17 and are locked therein, as shown in Figure 6.- Thus the entire box is essentially'completed.

When, however, as is usual the box is intended for mailing the sealing strip 40 is present as described, and after the closure of the box the wing portions 42 of the strip have their inner faces moistened and pressed back against the sides 34 of the box, thus sealing and further strengthening the same.

I claim 1 1. In a box of the character described, a connected base and side walls, a front Wall integral with the side walls and disconnected with the base, a back wall integral with the side walls, a locking flap upon the front edge of the base and foldable against the front wall, a foldable flap upon the opposite edge of the base embracing the back wall, the front wall, and the locking flap, locking flaps upon the foldable flap insertable intermediate the front Wall and the base and provided with notches adapted to receive the edges of the locking flap.

2. In a box of the character described, a base, side walls integral therewith, interlocked flaps-integral with the forward end of the walls disconnected with the base and constituting a front wall, flaps integral With the rear ends of the side walls and constituting a back Wall, a foldable flap integral with the base at one end embracing the front wall and the rear wall, locking fla s integral with the free end of the foldable ap spaced from each other and provided in their adjacent edges at their bases with lateral notches and extending intermediate the front wall and the base, and a locking flap integral with the base resting against the front Wall and seated in the notches.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

WALTER E. SCOTT. 

